Take a list of agricultural subjects, pin them on a wall and throw a dart. Chances are it will hit a subject at least one of the 81 presenters at the 2026 Manitoba Ag Days speaker series will be tackling.
A diverse range of speakers will be discussing key agricultural topics over three days at the event, to be held Jan. 20-22 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. The presentations will take place at the Centre’s MNP and FCC theatres.
WHY IT MATTERS: The annual speaker schedule at Manitoba Ag Days 2026 will again include a mix of well-known personalities, key farm production and farm business knowledge sessions and more.
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Organizers of the speaker series endeavour to stay current with the latest developments in ag, said Hannah Minshull, program committee lead for Manitoba Ag Days. However, agronomy is an evergreen subject.
“We try to touch on agronomy and weather and anything that’s relevant in the industry. It varies from year to year,” she said.
“In the last couple of years, geopolitics has sort of become a topic of interest, so we have had some geopolitical speakers. It just depends on what’s going on in the industry as to where we focus our attention.”
This year’s series will include six feature speakers. They are:
- Bryan Buhler, “Farming Simulator: an Opportunity to Learn and Discover”
Jan. 20, 10:15-11 a.m., MNP Theatre
Buhler, a mod creator for the popular Farming Simulator video game, will speak on how virtual farming can educate those unfamiliar with agriculture as well as offer something new to the well-versed. Those in attendance will have a chance to win one of five collector’s edition box sets of Farming Simulator for PCs.
- Sylvain Charlebois, “Feeding the Future”
Jan. 20, 1:30-2:30 p.m., MNP Theatre
Dalhousie University’s Sylvain Charlebois — known across Canada as “The Food Professor” — will explore how Canada can safeguard its food security while growing its competitiveness in a volatile world.
- Jacob Shapiro, “Geopolitics: What Lies Ahead?”
Jan. 21, 11-12 a.m., FCC Theatre
Shapiro, with Perch Perspectives LLC, will break down current global trends and the opportunities they may drive for Manitoba farmers.
- Greg Peterson, “Machinery Pete”
Jan. 21, 3-4 p.m., FCC Theatre
Peterson, considered one of the most trusted voices in farm equipment, will offer an insider’s look at the newest trends shaking up the ag equipment market.
- Val Caldwell, “Staying Secure in a Digital World”
Jan. 22, 9:30-10:15 a.m., FCC Theatre
Digital safety expert and independent consultant Val Caldwell will dive into the risks lurking online and the practical steps you can take to protect yourself and those around you.
- Fireside Chat with Arlene Dickinson
Jan. 22, 2:30-3:30 p.m., FCC Theatre
Dragons’ Den star Arlene Dickinson will share insights on the global competitiveness of Canadian-made products, building resilient domestic value chains and fostering consumer loyalty to local goods.
Dickinson is no stranger to agricultural commentary or investment. Speaking at the recent Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute’s (CAPI) conference in Ottawa, she talked about the international opportunities available to Canadian agriculture.
“My pitch would be this is absolutely a marketplace and an industry and a sector that needs full attention and can provide gigantic return profiles to our country, not just financially, but from a social perspective as well,” she said.
“So, it really hits all the buttons. Why wouldn’t you invest in it?”
Getting Dickinson on the schedule was a coup for Manitoba Ag Days, said Minshull, who identified the fireside chat as one of the presentations she’s looking forward to the most.
“(She’s) someone that we have talked about having on our program for a few years, and just have never, ever been able to make it happen,” she said.
Although not among the featured speakers, Minshull is also excited about the return of producer Scott Day to the speaker series. He will present “The Sky is Falling and the Cows are Coming Home” where he will convey his takes on ag technology. It takes place Jan. 21, from 1-2 p.m., also in the FCC Theatre.
“He is a very well-known speaker for the agriculture industry, born and raised in southern Manitoba.
“That’s always good to have someone like that come back and connect with the ag industry.”
Panels and youth highlighted
Ag Days organizers are experimenting with the speaker formula this year, said Minshull. An example is the Manitoba Young Speakers for Agriculture, which starts at 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 20 at the MNP Theatre.
Virtual preliminary competitions will take place over December and January, with the top four in the junior (11-15-year-olds) and senior (16-24) categories presenting live at Ag Days. The winners will be announced during the morning session.
“The winner of each of those categories has the opportunity to go on to the national speaking competition in Toronto next November,” she said.
Also new this year are panels covering a wide range of subjects. They include:
- Verticillium Stripe: Because Farming Wasn’t Hard Enough Already
Jan. 20, 10:15-11:30 a.m., FCC Theatre
- Farmer Panel: A Conversation About Farm Profitability
Jan. 20, 1-2:30 p.m., FCC Theatre
- Chem Company Showdown
Jan. 22, 10:15-1:15 a.m., FCC Theatre
- Beyond Data Transparency: How Industry Co-operation Improves Choice for Farmers
Jan. 22, 11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m., FCC Theatre
There will also be a screening of Deep Rooted on Jan. 21 from 4:45-6 p.m. in the MNP Theatre. This documentary explores the mental-health crisis facing agricultural producers across Canada. It follows four ag producers discussing their mental health and how it relates to farming.
For full show coverage, previews, video and more, check out the Manitoba Co-operator’s Ag Days landing page.
